Latch



Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,680,564 VParrain* ori-uca.

RAYMOND G. MOORE, OE BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB T THE BABSICXCOMPANY., OF IBRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT.

LATCH.

Application led Hay 8,

The present invention relates to an improved automobile door latch, andhas lfor an object to provide a latch of this character, having both aninside and an outside operi ating handle, and in which the outsidehandle may be rendered ineiective in its operation by means controlledfrom .the inside. The latch is especially `adapted for use upon doors ofclosed cars, being applied to all but one of the doors, and which latteris adapted to be locked from the outside.

/Heretofore it has been the practice to lock the outside handle, or thelatch bolt, against movement, either through manipulation of the insidehandle, or lthrough separate inside locking means, so that by4 exertinga.

suliicient force upon the locked outside handle the locking means couldbe forced or broken, and the latch bolt retracted to open the door. Itis proposed, in the present emloodiment of the invention, to renderoperation of the outside handle ineffective to operate the bolt, withoutlocking it against turning, however, and which cannot be forced toeiiect retraction of the bolt. A further object is to provide a latch inwhich the outside handle is rendered ineffective through a movement ofthe inside handle in reverse direction to the normal retractingmovement, so that in order to restore the operative relation of theinside handle, it is only necessary to move the inside handle in itsnormal retracting direction. Y

Another object is to provide a latch construction in which the insidehandle mechanism is adapted to operate directly with'the boltindependently of the outside retracting means, while the outside handlemechanism operates u on the bolt through an intermediate mem er.

It is particularly proposed, in the present embodiment, to provide alatch including a latch bolt having a retracting element normallyengaged with the outside handle rollback, and which is adapted to bedisengaged therefrom through manipulation of the inside handle to`render operation of the outside handle ineective. "a l With the aboveand other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown inthe accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter morefully described with reference thereto, and the in- A ventionwill befinally pointed out in the claims.

1926, Serial No. 107,542.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan elevation of an automobile door latch, according to thepresent embodiment of the invention, and showing ythe same in its normaloperative relation; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view,ftaken alongthe line 2--2 of Fig. 1; y Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view,taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan elevation, with the Vcover plate removed, and showingthe parts in the relation in which operation of the outside handle isrendered ineffective;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, `taken along the line 5-5 of Fig.4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the outside handle retracting elementemployed.-

Similarreference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the rawings.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown thereincomprises a sheet metal `iframe or base plate 10 having a face flange 11bent therefrom at one end, in which a rectangular opening 12. is iprovided, a lip flange portion 13 of the metal cut from the openingbeing bent inwardly in parallel spaced relation to the plate 10 to forma bearing for the latch bolt.

The latch bolt 14 is slidably engaged at its relatively thick noseportion 15 in the opening 12 and near its inner end is engaged by guideflanges 16 and 17 struck up from the plate 10, and adapted to guide thebolt in its longitudinal movement, a coil sprin 18 being engaged withthe inner end of sai bolt and normally pressing it to its projectedposition.

The bolt is retained against displacement by means of a lat cover plate19, flanged at its upper and lower edges, as at 20, and secured to theplate 10 by lugs 21 inserted through slots 22 inthe plate 10 and bentover upon the outer surface of said plate.

The latch bolt has formed upon itsouter surface a pair of transverseribs 23 and 24, the rib 23 being spaced with relation to .the innersurface of the nose 15, and the rib 24: being spaced with relation. totheinner end of the bolt.` and being respectively enga d in slotopenings 25 and 26 in lthe cover p ate The inside handle roll-hach 2? isadapted to engage directly with the rib 24, its 4hub 28 being rotatablysupported in apertures in 110 the plates 10 and 19, and being movable inlcollinter-clockwise direction to retract the The outside handleroll-back 29 llas its hub 30 rotatably supported in apertures in theplates 10 and 19, and normally engages the upper end portion 31 of anintermediate gate member 32 hingedly connected at its lower end to thelatch'bolt, being provided for this purpose with bent hinge forming ears33 and 34 engaged about a shaft 35 secured at its ends in the inner endof the nose portion 15 and in the rib 23 ofthe bolt, respectively, aspring 35 coiled about said shaft having one end bearing upon said gatemember and yieldingly pressing its end 31 into engagement with the plate10, said end being bent into offset relation, whereby it engages flatlyupon said plate. The gate memer is provided with a substantiallysemi-circular cut-out portion 36 at its forward edge, which embraces thehub of the roll-back 29. In the normal operative relation of the parts,the outside handle roll-back 29 engages the end 3l of the gate member,and thereby operates to retract the bolt, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 1.

In order to render operation of the outside handle inetfective,throughmanipulation of the inside handle, there is provided,intermediate the gate member and the inside handle roll-back, abell-crank lever 37 pivotally mounted upon the plate 10 by means of arivet stud 38. The long arm of this lever extends at its forward endabove the upper end of the gate member, and is provided with aknife-edge camming portion 39 adapted upon depression of the lever toenter beneath the end portion 31 of the gate member to thereby raise itaway from the surface of the plate 10 to a point where the outer handleroll-back will move beneath 'said portion, as shown in Fig. 4. A beveledge portion 40 provided on the portion 31 facilitates engagement of thelever end therewith. The short arm 41 of the lever is connected at itslower end by a helical spring 42 to a lug 43 provided on the hub of theouter handle roll-back, and has the double function of yieldinglymaintaining the outslde handle roll-back in its normal position incont-act with the flange 11, and of tending rotate the lever inclockwise direction, that 1s, to disengage the same from the gatemember.

A lug 44 is bent from the lever and engagesthe periphery of the insidehandle rollack 27 at a point between the circumferential surface 45 atone side and a cam rise surface 46 at the other side, a notch 47 beingprovided adjacent said surface 46.

The operation is as follows: As shown in Fig. 1, in which the parts arein their normal operative relation, they latch bolt is retracted rom theinside by the inside handle, the roll-back 27 being rotated incounter-clockwise direction, and bearing directly upon the fiange or rib24 of the bolt. It is retracted from the outside by the. outside handle,the roll-back 29 being rotated in clockwise direction, and throughpressure upon tbe gate member 32, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1,retracting the bolt.

In order to render operation of the outside handle ineffective toretract the bolt, the inside handle is moved through a partial rotationin opposite direction to its noi-mal retracting movement, (Fig. 4)bringing the cam portion 46 into engagement with the lug 44 and therebyrotating the lever 37 to bring its forward end beneath the upper end ofthe gate member, the latter being thus moved out of operative relationwith the out side handle roll-back 29, this relation being yieldablymaintained, as shown in Fig. 4, through engagement of the lug 44 in tbenotch 47. Upon actuation of the outside handle in this relation, theroll-back 2f) moves beneath the gate member, and such actuation istherefore ineffectual to retract the bolt.

The normal operative relation of tbe outside handle is 'restored uponmoving tbe inside handle in retracting direction, tbe initial movementdisengaging the lever 37 from the gate member, which moves under theaction of its spring into operative relation with the outside handleroll-back, and the continued movement causing retraction of the bolt.

Under all conditions the latch bolt is free to be retractedindependently of the handles, that is, by pressure directly applied atits nose, as in slamming the door closed.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodimentof the invention, but it will be obvious that changes` may be madetherein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appendedclalms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In a latch, a latch bolt, retracting means for saidbolt including inside and outside manually operable means,'a retractingmember interposed between said outside retracting means-and the bolt andconnected to said bolt, and means associated with said inside retractingmeans adapted upon manipulation of the latter in a non-bolt-retractingdirection to remove said retracting member from operative relation withsaid outside retracting means.

2. In a latch, a latch bolt, retracting means for said bolt includinginside and outside manually operable means, a retracting memberlnterposed between said outside retracting means and the bolt andconnected for longitudinal movement with said bolt, and

means associated with said inside retracting means adapted uponmanipulation of the latter in a non-bolt-retracting direction to removesaid retractingz member from operative relation with said outsideretracting means.

In a latch, a latch bolt, reti-acting means for said bolt including`inside and outside manually operable means. said inside means engagingdirectly with the bolt, a retracting member interposed between saidoutside retrat-ting means and the bolt and connected to the bolt, andmeans associated with said inside retractingg,r means adapted uponmanipulation of the latter in a direction reverse to itsbolt-retractingg direction to remove said retracting member fromoperative relation With said outside reti-acting means.

4. In a latch, a latch bolt, rctracting means for said bolt includinginside and outside manually operable means, a retracting memberinterposed between said outside retracting means and said bolt, saidinside retracting means including means operatively related to saidretractint,T member, whereby movement of said inside retracting means inone direction is adapted to retract the bolt and in the other directionis adapted to remove said retracting member from operative relation withthe outside retracting means.

5. In a latch, a latch bolt, retracting means for said bolt includinginside and outside manually operable means. a retracting memberinterposed between said outside retracting means and the bolt andhingedly connected to said bolt, and means associated with said insideretracting means adapted upon manipulation of the latter in anon-bolt-retracting direction to remove said retracting member fromoperative relation with said outside retracting means.

6. In a latch, a latch bolt, retracting means for said bolt includinginside and outside manually operable means, a reti-acting memberinterposed between said outside retracting means and the bolt, connectedtothe bolt, and normally disposed in the path of movement ot' saidoutside retracting means, and means associated with said insidereti-acting means adapted upon manipulation-in a nonbolt-retractingTdirection to remove said re tracting member from the path of movement oisaid outside reti-acting means.

7. In a latch. a latch bolt, retracting means for said bolt includinginside and outside manually operable means, a retracting memberinterposed between said outside retracting,- means and the bolt andconnected to the bolt, a lever associated With said inside retractingmeans adapted upon manipulation of the latter in a non-bolt-retractingdirection to remove said retracting member from operative relation withsaid outside retracting means.

8. In a latch, a latch bolt, retracting means for said bolt includinginside and outside manually operable means. a retracting memberinterposed between said outside retracting means and the bolt andmovably connected to the bolt, a lever disposed in relation to saidinside reti-acting,T means, and cam means carried by said insideretracting means adapted upon manipulation of the latter in anon-bolt-retracting direction to move said lever wherebyv the latter isadapted to remove said reti-acting member from operative relation withsaid outside retracting means.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State ofConnecticut, this 4th day of May, 1926.

RAYMOND G. MOORE.

